"I just got a message that it would be premature for me to come to Hartford and I'll be contacted shortly," Pronger's agent, Pat Morris, said at 10:45 p.m.

"I have serious doubts, with what they're asking, we can get this deal done," Whalers' departing general manager Brian Burke said. "I am not optimistic right now."

To play for the Whalers, Pronger must be signed by 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. If not, the defenseman is expected to join the Canadian Olympic team. Morris tendered four new proposals to the Whalers, evidently increasing Pronger's demands, but said he's received no reply. The sides are millions of dollars apart.

"Time is of the essence," Morris said. "He wants to be a member of the Whalers, but there is nothing to indicate we're close to a deal."

At 7 p.m., Burke said he had nothing to do with a meeting in Hartford and planned to meet Morris Sunday in Edmonton. Acting GM-coach Paul Holmgren confirmed that.

But at 9:30 p.m. Morris said he had plane tickets to come to Hartford from his home in Toronto today and knew nothing about the meeting being called off. Morris said he is not sure he's going to Edmonton. After talking to Whalers owner Richard Gordon for two hours Wednesday in Albany during a Whalers exhibition game, Morris said a Hartford summit had been arranged. Said Morris: "If Chris didn't play this year it would be unfortunate, but it would hurt the Whalers worse than Chris.